An AI audit checklist provides a structured evaluation framework covering governance structures, risk management processes, data quality controls, model performance, fairness measures, transparency mechanisms, and regulatory compliance status.
AI Audit Checklist Template: Comprehensive Evaluation Guide (2026)
Using This Checklist
This checklist provides a structured framework for evaluating AI system compliance. Adapt it to your specific regulatory requirements, organizational context, and AI system characteristics. Not every item will apply to every system; scope the checklist based on the system's risk classification and applicable regulations.
Governance and Accountability
- AI governance policy exists and is current
- Roles and responsibilities are defined and communicated
- System owner and compliance officer are identified
- Management review process is established and operational
- AI system inventory is complete and current
- Risk classification is documented and justified
Risk Management
| Check Item | EU AI Act Reference | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Risk assessment completed and current | Article 9 | |
| Residual risks identified and documented | Article 9(4) | |
| Risk mitigation measures implemented | Article 9(2) | |
| Risk assessment updated for material changes | Article 9(1) | |
| Combined risks from interaction with other systems assessed | Article 9(8) |
Data Governance
- Training data sources documented
- Data quality criteria defined and verified
- Data representativeness assessed
- Data protection impact assessment completed (where applicable)
- Data retention and deletion policies in place
- Bias testing conducted on training data
Technical Documentation
| Document | EU AI Act Reference | Status |
|---|---|---|
| System description and intended purpose | Annex IV(1) | |
| Development methodology documentation | Annex IV(2) | |
| Architecture and design decisions | Annex IV(2)(b) | |
| Testing and validation results | Annex IV(3) | |
| Performance metrics and benchmarks | Annex IV(3) | |
| Instructions for use | Article 13 |
Transparency and Human Oversight
- Users informed that they interact with an AI system
- System capabilities and limitations are documented
- Human oversight mechanisms are in place
- Override and intervention capabilities tested
- Explainability measures implemented and documented
Monitoring and Maintenance
- Performance monitoring is active
- Drift detection mechanisms are operational
- Incident response plan exists and is tested
- Post-market monitoring plan is implemented
- Logging capabilities meet Article 12 requirements
- Corrective action process is defined
Regulatory Compliance
- Applicable regulations identified and mapped
- Conformity assessment completed (if required)
- EU database registration completed (if required)
- Declaration of conformity prepared
- CE marking applied (if applicable)
- Serious incident reporting procedure in place
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